I leave to you for aye me to disgrace With all those shames, that erst ye spake me to de face." 19 With that a dwarfe she cald to her in hast, 30 The Dwarfe his way did hast, and went all night: But Calidore did with her there abyde The comming of that so much threatned knight; That yron heart it hardly could sustaine: 81 The morrow next, before the lampe of light 1 I. e. treated him with foul indignity. Therefore he wild her doe away all dread; And, that of him she mote assured stand, 32 Thereof full blyth the Lady streight became, But rather did more chearefull seeme therefore: Where long he stayed not, when as a Knight He spide come pricking on with al his powre and might. 83 Well weend he streight that he should be the same Which tooke in hand her quarrell to maintaine; Ne stayd to aske if it were he by name, But coucht his speare, and ran at him amaine. That neither could the others stroke sustaine, But rudely rowld to ground both man and horse, Neither of other taking pitty nor remorse. 34 But Calidore uprose againe full light, Whiles yet his foe lay fast in sencelesse sound; * Yet would he not him hurt, although he might; For shame he weend a sleeping wight to wound. 1 Basenet, helmet. 2 Band, bond, pledge. So the old editions. Swound is commoner, but sound is not But when Briana saw that drery stound,1 There where she stood uppon the castle wall, She deem'd him sure to have bene dead on ground; And made such piteous mourning therewithall, That from the battlements she ready seem'd to fall. 35 Nathlesse at length himselfe he did upreare But, when he saw his foe before in vew, He shooke off luskishnesse; and, courage chill Kindling afresh, gan battell to renew, To prove if better foote then horsebacke would ensew. 36 There then began a fearefull cruell fray Ne once to breath awhile their angers tempest ceast. 37 Thus long they trac'd 5 and traverst to and fro, And tryde all waies how each mote entrance make 1 Stound, exigency. 2 Lustlesse, listless. 8 Luskishnesse, sluggishness. 4 Practicke, skilful. Into the life of his malignant foe; They hew'd their helmes, and plates asunder brake, Of bloudy gore congeal'd about them stood, ss At length it chaunst that both their hands on hie 36 And, ere he could recover foot againe, He, following that faire advantage fast, 4 His stroke redoubled with such might and maine, That him upon the ground he groveling cast; And leaping to him light would have unlast His helme, to make unto his vengeance way: Who, seeing in what daunger he was plast, Cryde out: "Ah mercie, Sir! doe me not slay, But save my life, which lot before your foot doth lay." 1 Potshares, potsherds. 2 Prevented, anticipated. 8 Formerlie, first. 4 Unlast, unlaced. 5 Lot, fortune. 40 With that his mortall hand a while he stayd; And, having somewhat calm'd his wrathfull heat With goodly patience, thus he to him sayd: "And is the boast of that proud Ladies threat, That menaced me from the field to beat, Now brought to this? By this now may ye learne Strangers no more so rudely to intreat1; But put away proud looke and usage sterne, The which shal nought to you but foule dishonor yearne.2 41 "For nothing is more blamefull to a knight, 42 "Who will not mercie unto others shew, How can he mercy ever hope to have? To pay each with his owne is right and dew: Yet since ye mercie now doe need to crave, I will it graunt, your hopelesse life to save, With these conditions which I will propound: First, that ye better shall yourselfe behave Unto all errant knights, whereso on ground; Next, that ladies avde in ye stead and stound.8" 1 Intreat, treat. every 8 Stead and stound, place and time. 2 Yearne, earn. |